I was at a meeting recently where a woman complained “The Presbyterian Church doesn’t do evangelism very well.” She sounded angry, frustrated, disappointed, maybe all of the above. I could only agree. We don’t do evangelism very well. Maybe we never have, at least in my lifetime. I’m not sure we ever mentioned the “e” word while I was in seminary. If they did, I must have skipped class that day. However, when I was going home, I started thinking about that remark. Here’s what I would have said if I had thought about it soon enough or what I may say when I hear someone say something like that again. So, maybe the Presbyterian Church doesn’t do evangelism very well, but whose responsibility is it? Yes, the Presbyterian Church at all levels could be doing a better job of evangelism. But there is nothing stopping you from doing evangelism except you. 

Matthew 25:31–46 calls all of us to actively engage in the world around us, so our faith comes alive and we wake up to new possibilities. Convicted by this passage, both the 222nd and 223rd General Assemblies (2016 and 2018) exhorted the PC(USA) to act boldly and compassionately to serve people who are hungry, oppressed, imprisoned or poor. In response, the Mission Committee will host a free lunchtime speaker series on Zoom from noon to 1 p.m. on the fourth Thursday of the month, beginning with Dr. Jerry Carr Jr. (pictured), President of the Morgantown/Kingwood branch of the NAACP, who will speak on May 27 about how we can take action to change racism. Click here to register for the program. In June, Rev. Zac Morton of Morgantown First Presbyterian will speak about houselessness and ways we can act upon it in our own communities.

The committee is also planning a Matthew 25 corner in the newsletter and asks churches to share what they are doing with Robin Ray (pastorrobin@bridgeportpresbyterian.com) or Barbara Chalfant (missions@wvpresbytery.org). 

Crude roads turn a quick trip to Malawi, Africa’s remote prisons into a day’s journey. Desperate inmates yearn for the arrival of Chaplain Rev. Stanley Chimesya, who travels to eight prisons, taking the Gospel and lifesaving supplies to the forgotten children of God. Visits are few but Rev. Stanley, as he is affectionately called, continues to deliver the hope and light of Jesus, as well as soap, food, water, and essential support to the inmates and their families. The one common denominator for all of these activities is reliable transportation. Rev. Stanley’s former truck was totaled by bad roads in rural Malawi, so now his already very time-consuming travel time is extended by hiring vehicles to take supplies to the prisons, therefore making his visits rare. This mission project is to raise funds to purchase Rev. Stanley a Nissan X-Trail truck to assist in his ministry, which helps fulfill his organization's mission to heed the Matthew 25 call of love and devotion toward our neighbors, no matter how far away they may be. PWV Presbyterian Women circles, please consider your monetary and prayer support for this unique ministry encouraged by the Synod of the Trinity's Presbyterian Women. Checks should be made to PW Synod of the Trinity and mailed to the Connie Musgrave, Presbytery of WV PW Treasurer, 127 Wyngate Dr., Barboursville, WV 25504 by Dec. 1, 2021. Share a flyer with your PW circle.

Seeking energetic, creative music director for part-time salaried position that entails working within a budget to serve as choir director, facilitate music associated with worship, and work with church youth. Formal music training and ability to play piano or organ preferred. Successful applicant will be required to pass a background check, in accordance with the church's Safe Sanctuary Policy. Email office@oldstonechurchwv.com or call 304-645-2676 to apply.

Nancy, part of the family for whom Huntington's Bates Memorial Presbyterian Church is named, passed away on May 2 at the age of 94. She was a Ruling Elder at the church, as well as a previous leader of its Presbyterian Women. Click here for an obituary. A memorial service was held on May 8 at the church. Memorial donations may be made to Bates Memorial Presbyterian Church, 103 Jefferson Park Dr., Huntington, WV 25705, or Hospice of Huntington, Attn: Development Dept., P.O. Box 464, Huntington, WV 25709.

Beginning May 20, Enslow Park will offer Faith Flow yoga on the third Thursday of the month at 7:30 p.m. at the church, 1338 Enslow Blvd., Huntington, WV 25705. Joan St. Clair of Studio 8 will lead, as Pastor John Yeager recites verses that follow the teachings and life of Christ through a moving meditation of breathing and various poses. The service also includes the Lord's Supper. Space is limited for this program, which is donation-based with a portion of the proceeds going to Harmony House, Golden Girls and the Facing Hunger Food Bank. Attendees must bring their own mat and mask. Reservations required. For more information, call 304-523-9920 or 304-360-1198 or email eppc7@outlook.com.

If you missed the April 29 panel discussion with the Presbytery's three Matthew 25 churches (Clifton, Dunbar First, and Bream Memorial), it was recorded. To request that link, email office@wvpresbytery.org, and it will be sent to you.

The West Virginia Council of Churches Faith and Order Program Unit is conducting a survey of how congregations held worship during the pandemic. The goals are to understand the impact of the pandemic on worship in West Virginia, understand what was helpful during this time and what was not helpful, and to design training and resources that might be useful for the future. Click here to take the survey.

On April 19, the Center for Congregational Singing shared a link to the full 40-page scientific study update from the University of Colorado Boulder and University of Maryland on Covid risk through aerosol droplets during singing. In addition to that link, the page linked in our headline shares the most important study excerpts in terms of congregational singing, as well as recommendations from the center's director.

Preaching for the Future Church is the theme of this year's Festival of Homiletics from Luther Seminary, which is online from May 17 to 21. The event invites participants into conversation around how the promise of the Gospel might shape hope and ministry for the future church and what the role of preaching is in forming the church of the future. Over five days, there will be more than 50 speakers, including Kate Bowler, Diana Butler Bass, Brian McLaren, Neichelle Guidry, Matthew L. Skinner, and Rebekah Lowe and Adam Walker Cleaveland of Illustrated Ministry. You can register for free or purchase a recording package ($75) for full access to all sessions, which you can watch on your own schedule, plus bonus material like additional speaker presentations and live workshops/lectures.

This year, PAM's annual Worship & Music Conference will offer both in-person and online options for participants. It is an intergenerational event for pastors, directors, musicians, worship leaders, and choir members. Offerings include six worship services, lectures, Adult Choir with Phillip Shoultz, handbell ensembles for all levels, a seminar on copyright law for churches, and evening concerts. In-person cost is $350 for PAM members, $525 for non-members, and $280 for youth; virtual cost is $175 for members and $250 for non-members.

Earlier this month, Hinton First Presbyterian Church member Betty Giles was honored as a Hometown Hero by local news station WVVA. The Hometown Hero program honors those who have a huge heart and go above and beyond for their community. In Giles' case, that includes being instrumental in starting Hinton's first and only food pantry (at the church), distributing items to a local nursing home during the pandemic, actively serving at Hinton First, and always being available to help people in her community.

Per the opening lines of its orientation brochure, "Yakutat Presbyterian Church is in the isolated Yakutat community of around 600 people. Yakutat means 'place where the canoes rest' and is located on the Gulf of Alaska. The town has a beautiful mountain backdrop to some of the best fishing around...Historically Alaska Native, the congregation continues to celebrate Tlingit heritage and to promote the preservation of the Tlingit culture." Yakutat is accessible primarily by plane and lesser so by ferry. The congregation is small but faithful and caring. Without ongoing pastoral leadership, they have struggled to support and grow the congregation. Attempts to bring pastors to Yakutat for multiple weeks at a time to serve the congregation and the community are beginning to bear fruit. Other interested and available pastors are needed. If you are able to give two or more weeks to experience Yakutat’s beauty and participate in God’s mission there, please contact Rev. Steve Cort (HR) to learn more: stephencartercort@gmail.com or 724-991-3457. (Photo: Yakutat Chamber of Commerce)